Travel Updates

On the edge: Inside the world's most crooked tower

The Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi is the world's most leaning tower. Picture: Supplied

THAT'S not a lean - now this is a lean!

This is the tilted skyscraper that puts the Leaning Tower of Pisa to shame. And no, it's not the result of a landslide or earthquake - it was built like that on purpose.

Abu Dhabi's 160 metre-high Capital Gate skyscraper leans a gravity-defying 18 degrees to the west and has been verified as the world's furthest leaning man-made tower by the Guinness Book of World Records.

It has more than four times the lean of the Leaning Tower of Pisa at about 3.99 degrees.

The 35-storey tower, which opened less than a year ago after five years of construction, is fast becoming one of Abu Dhabi's most famous landmarks.

A visit to the skyscraper requires a switch of elevators along the way, because the lifts can't operate all the way up the leaning building in one go.

The flashy lobby features an enormous glass chandelier that screams luxury. The extravagance continues high up in the building: the five-star hotel Hyatt Capital Gate occupies the 18th to 33rd floors. It includes 189 guestrooms including the Presidential suite, which costs from approximately $3500.

There are also dizzying views on offer from the hotel's restaurant, 18 degrees.

So how did they build it?

Construction was no easy feat. To create the leaning effect engineers stacked floor plates vertically up to the 12th storey and staggered over each other by between 30-140 centimetres.

The tower looks like it could topple over during strong wind gusts. However its diagrid and support beams absorb and channel forces produced by wind and seismic pressure.

The exterior of the Capital Gate. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied

The gravitational pressure caused by the incline is countered using a core of concrete reinforced with steel that was built slightly off-centre. There are also 490 piles drilled 20-30 metres underground to anchor the building.

The building, which was designed by architectural company RMJM, had been due to open in 2009 but the launch had to be delayed due to challenges with the building's unusual design.

The writer travelled as a guest of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.

A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites.